Robert Salazar Jaworski (born March 8, 1946 in Baguio City, Philippines), also known as Sonny Jaworski, Bobby Jaworski, Jawo, and Robert Jaworski, Sr., is a former Philippine senator, basketball coach and Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) and PBA basketball player.

Known as The Big J and called The Living Legend during his playing days, Jaworski was a former playing coach—the first ever in the PBA—for Ginebra San Miguel. In 2000 he was honored as one of the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players of all time. He is of Filipino and Polish American descent.

Amateur career

Born to a Polish American father and a Filipino mother in Baguio City, Philippines, Jaworski began to gain fame when he started playing basketball for the University of the East's Red Warriors in 1966 and towed the Recto-based school to the UAAP championship in the 1966 and 1967 championships. Because of his outstanding accomplishment with UE, he was first labeled "Big Hands" by the late sportscaster Willie Hernandez describing the large palms he possessed and how easy it was for him to clutch the ball with a single hand.

In 1966, he was part of the national team that represented the country in the Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand. The year after, he was part of the champion ABC team that played in Seoul, South Korea, beating the host country led by the legendary shooting guard, Shin Dong Pa. Jaworski and the late Edgardo Ocampo were responsible for stopping Shin in that finals game. Because of this victory, the Philippines earned the right to represent Asia in the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico. He was also part of the national team that won the 1973 staging of the ABC held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, thereby earning the right to play in the 1974 WorldChampionships held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Pilo Pumaren recruited Jaworski who was about to enroll in FEU in 1963. Jaworski played for UE in 1964 and was the second highest scorer. He (with another UE star player, Nat Canson) played for Baby Dalupan's Crispa as guest player in the MICAA of 1966. Jaworski together with Narciso Bernardo were named as members of the 1967 Asian Basketball Confederation.

He then played for Elizalde-owned Yco Painters under Coach Loyzaga in 1967 national Seniors' Nat. Invitation ( YCO regained the titles)and transferred to Meralco in 1968 but was not able to play in the MICAA due to lack of release papers.

His first MVP was during the Presidential CUP of 1970. He was mentioned in the Basketball History of the Philippines (by Boni Escoda) as the best Filipino player in the MICAA from 1971-74 by topping all the rest with an Player's All-around Value of 35.7.

He almost died in a critical fall (sahod) off Yutivo's Casimiro Santos in January 6 1971 (first Filipino MICAA).

He moved to play for the Meralco Reddywatts in 1970, a team considered as Crispa's arch rivals in the MICAA. However, in 1971 he and Big Boy Renoso were banned for life by the BAP for assaulting two basketball officials, Eriberto Cruz and Jose Obias, who were making a series of bad calls favoring the Crispa Floro team. Meralco team was behind 65-50 against the Redmanizers. Meralco disbanded the team in 1972. The two sure shoo-ins for the RP team to the 1972 Olympics missed the national team for the first time in their lives.

Owing to the immense talent that the two cagers possessed,they were reinstated in 1973 and played for Meralco only in an exhibition match versus the Japanese national team which they won.

They went back to Meralco and later on teamed up in the national team for the 1973 ABC. Jaworski was the lead guard of that team alongside Francis Arnaiz, Ramon "Tito" (later called "Mon") Fernandez, Reynoso and William "Bogs" Adornado. Other players in that team included Rogelio "Tembong" Melencio, David "Dave" Regullano, Rosalio "Yoyong" Martirez, Manuel "Manny" Paner, Alberto "Abet" Guidaben, Jaime "Jimmy" Mariano and Ricardo "Joy" Cleofas.It was also around this time when the nickname "Big J" was given to him, resembling the "Big O" tag given to Oscar Robertson who Jaworski played like.

They, with other Meralco players, Tino Reynoso (died in 2008), Fort Acuña (committed suicide in 1981), Francis Arnaiz and Orly Bauson were taken by the Silverio-owned company Komatsu Comets-(later became Toyota) and was responsible for giving a couple of championships in the MICAA. Jaworski became a court general and led the Toyota to the 1973 MICAA title. Reynoso, Jaworski and Armaiz made it to the 1973 and 1974 RP team that regained the ABC crown and went to the 1974 World Basketball.

When the PBA was formed in 1975, Jaworski was part of the original core of Toyota players who donned the Comets uniform at the inception of the league. Jaworski had for his original teammates names like Arnaiz, Reynoso, Fernandez, Reynoso's younger brother Cristino (Tino), Rodolfo "Ompong" Segura, Oscar Rocha, Joaquin "Jake" Rojas, and Orlando "Orly" Bauzon.

Professional careerToyota

Jaworski was part of Toyota for nine seasons, from 1975 until its disbandment at the end of the 1983 season. He was the acknowledged leader of the Toyota squad which had many fiery matches with their rival, the Crispa Redmanizers. Together with Francis Arnaiz and Ramon Fernandez, they formed the troika of Toyota's vaunted offense.

He was a major player in Toyota's nine championships and was named Most Valuable Playerin 1978. Jaworski's MVP performance may arguably be considered as the most dominating ever in one season after he averaged 20 points, 12 assists and close to nine rebounds per game. This was done despite the presence of hulking imports with no height limit - imports he played alongside and against with. The closest that would compete for domination would be Ramon Fernandez's scintillating 1984 season for Beer Hausen where "El Presidente" averaged 27 points, 15 boards and 9.9 assists per game. The difference though was that Jaworski led his Toyota team to two championships that season (the Open and the AFC) while Fernandez failed to bag a title in 1984.

He was also the first point guard to achieve 1000 offensive and 2000 defensive rebounds. He is also the PBA's All Time Leader in Assists.

In 1967 ABC Jaworski and veteran internationalist and Asia's best forward, Narciso Bernardo were named as members of the Mythical Five.

Ginebra

When Toyota disbanded at the end of the 1983 season, the team was sold to Basic Holdings, Inc., the company that owns Asia Brewery. Jaworski balked at the idea of joining Beer Hausen, the brand name of Basic Holdings after describing what he felt was a sale done without giving due respect to the personalities involved. Jaworski described the sale as a 'farce,' and that players like him should not be sold "por kilo." At that time, Beer Hausen was intent on making Fernandez as the franchise player of the team with Jaworski relegated in the background. Eventually, then PBA president Carlos "Honeyboy" Palanca III made a decision that was the most controversial and history-making move in the PBA. Palanca, owner of La Tondeña, Inc. which owns Gilbey's Gin (later Ginebra San Miguel) in the PBA, decided to take in Jaworski and best buddy Arnaiz to the team. This marked the cornerstone in making Ginebra arguably the most popular team in Philippine basketball history with Jaworski at the forefront.

Jaworski and Arnaiz turned the moribund franchise into a competitive one almost overnight when in the first conference of the 1984 season, the All Filipino, he led the team to a runnerup finish against powerhouse Crispa. Gilbey's Gin was then led by Arturo "Turo" Valenzona, a former nemesis of Jaworski from their MICAA days. A power struggle was already ensuing thereby leading to the breakup of the Valenzona-Jaworski partnership at the start of the 1985 season. Jaworski took over as playing coach of Ginebra San Miguel while Valenzona went on limbo before latching up with the Tanduay Rhum Makers in the 1986 season.

The Big J's first championship as a playing coach came in the 1986 Open Conference when he, alongside super imports Michael Hackett and Billy Ray Bates, dominated the entire conference to win the championship finals at the expense of the Manila Beer team, then led by former Crispa players Abet Guidaben (who was traded from Tanduay vice Fernandez) and Atoy Co, alongside imports Michael Young and Harold Keeling.

In Game 4 of that Best of Seven series, Jaworski played the entire game that needed two extra overtime periods to beat Manila Beer 145-135, thereby taking a commanding 3-1 lead. Jaworski was 40 years old at that time and yet became a PBA record holder for being the local who played the longest in one game. Jaworski's wedding godson, Zandro "Jun" Limpot eventually would break that record while playing for the Sta. Lucia Realtors as a rookie in 1993 by playing 60 minutes in a triple OT victory against SMB. Paradoxically, Jaworski owns the PBA record for playing the shortest time in a PBA game, at one second. In a game against the Alaska Milkmen in 1996 and behind by two points with one second in that game, the Big J fielded himself to handle the inbound. While the inbound was successful, the team failed to convert this into a basket and lost the game.

In 1988, Jaworski finally won his first and only All Filipino championship in a controversy-ridden championship at the expense of the rookie team Purefoods Hotdogs, led by playing-coach Ramon Fernandez. Jaworski and Fernandez were involved in a running feud dating back when Toyota disbanded in 1983 and this became the climax of their rift. In Game 1 of that finals, Anejo Rum 65 upended Purefoods to gain initial lead in the series. Purefoods owner Jaime Zobel De Ayala and president Renato Buhain publicly accused Fernandez of dropping Game 1 and took him out as head coach and player for the entire series. Because of this controversy, Anejo Rum went on to win the series, 3-1, including the deciding Game 4 where Jaworski became best player of the game - topscoring for his team with 28 points.

In 1989, Jaworski and Fernandez eventually reconciled, ending a long feud. Ironically, it was Baby Dalupan, coach of their arch rival Crispa team that made it possible. Dalupan, then coaching the Veterans team of Jaworski and Fernandez in the 1989 All Star Game against the Rookies and Sophomore team, encouraged the two to shake hands after the game where both of them led to victory by two points, 132-130. In the final 4 seconds of that game, Jaworski inbounded the ball and gave the pass to Fernandez who streaked past Benjie Paras and made a twisting "elegant" shot for the two point win.

The reconciliation didn't turn out to be for a show though as Jaworski, after being appointed national team coach by the BAP, selected Fernandez in the team to represent our country in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, China. Fernandez was among 12 players personally chosen by Jaworski to lead the charge for the team - others included Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, Avelino "Samboy" Lim, Yves Dignadice, Hector Calma, Venancio "Benjie" Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, Zaldy Realubit and the Big J's players with Anejo - Dante Gonzalgo, Chito Loyzaga and Rey Cuenco. This team salvaged the silver medal against host China but not after giving the Chinese a good fight in the finals, losing 90-76.

In 1991, Jaworski won his third title at the expense of Formula Shell in Game 7 of the Open Conference. In that deciding game, Jaworski inbounded from the endline to Rudy Distrito with 4 seconds remaining. Distrito made a difficult, twisting, off-balanced and falling shot over the outstretched arms of Paras to pull off a two point win and to the delight of millions of Ginebra fans watching the game. Jaworski ended up once more as the best player of that game with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 8 feeds in an all-around effort not common for a 45 year old man. This marked the first time in the history of the PBA that a team came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the championship.

From 1992 to 1995, Ginebra suffered a drought owing to budgetary constraints experienced by the franchise. Jaworski belabored with marginal players and washed-up veterans in trying to earn respectability during this period. In 1995, a PBA record was established when the Big J took in his eldest son Robert, Jr. (Dudut), in the second round of the rookie draft, making this the only time when a father and son played for the same team. However, the two never got to play together as Jaworski contented himself coaching the team while Dudut got his few minutes as a starter.

It was in 1996 when the breakthrough came in for Ginebra, now called Ginebra Na! After years of savoring for super rookie Marlou Aquino, he finally got the 6'9 beanpole as top draft pick of 1996. He also got Bal David from the free agent ranks after the latter displayed capability as a point guard when he and Aquino led the national team to the gold medal in the 1995 SEA Games. David was also the celebrated point guard of the PBL, leading the Stag team to twin championships in 1995. But 1996 was Alaska's year - and the grandslam was accomplished with Gordon's Gin at the losing end in the 3rd and final conference. In 1997 though, Jaworski finally earned his 4th jewel, mentoring the team to the 1997 Commissioner's Cup championship at the expense of the Alaska Milkmen. The team won in 6 games, including a 126-94 rout in the final game.

Jaworski remained as coach of the team until April 1998 when he announced his intention of running for the Philippine Senate in May that year. Jaworski wounded up 8th overall in the Senate race, making him one of the few cagers to become a Senator of the Republic - following the footsteps of the late Ambrosio Padilla and Freddie Webb. Fernandez tried to run for the Senate in the 2002 elections but wounded up 19th overall.

After being proclaimed Senator, Jaworski turned over the coaching chores to his long-time assistant Quirino "Rino" Salazar while taking a leave of absence from the basketball scene. But in 1999, a controversy erupted when Ginebra owner Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Jr. announced the promotion of Allan Caidic as playing assistant coach of Jaworski in Ginebra. The Big J didn't take this well and resigned from his position as head coach after feeling insulted of not being informed about it beforehand. Salazar took over and later on handed the reins to Caidic when he had to migrate to Alaska and join his family.

Jaworski's last game in the PBA was in March 1997 in a game held at Dumaguete City. He did not play much in that game but owns the record for being the oldest player ever to play in the PBA at 50 years old. This on top of being acknowledged as the league's most popular player ever and the icon of Philippine basketball for several years.

2003 Crispa-Toyota exhibition

In 2003, after 23 years of giving Philippine basketball fans scintillating performances, he once more thrilled the public when the fabled Crispa-Toyota rivalry was relived in a historic reunion match on May 30, 2003 that played to a packed Araneta Coliseum. The match did not fail to disappoint as the game was tantalizingly close until the dying seconds of the game when Jaworski, reprising his old role, sank a three pointer from atop the arc to give his old team one last triumph over their old nemesis.This one last act on the basketball hardcourt cemented his legendary status in the hearts and minds of Filipino basketball fans.

Political career

Jaworski ran for Senator during the 1998 national elections as an independent candidate, which he won. Due to this, he was forced to leave the coaching chores to Ginebra assistant Rino Salazar. After a dispute with the new officials at Ginebra's mother company, San Miguel Corporation, Jaworski quit his duties as head coach and concentrated more on his political duties.

Jaworski was Chairman of Economic Affairs, Trade and Commerce Committee and was also a member of the Games and Amusement and Sports Committee.Among the 300 or so bills he has authored or co-authored, he is most proud of eventual laws that:

• declared the Mt. Kitanglad Range in the province of Bukidnon a protected area;• established the Northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range in Isabela as protected area;• established the Batanes Group of Islands as protected area;• established Mt. Kanla-On as protected area; and, to the consternation of logging companies,• regulated the ownership, possession and sale of chainsaws. Jaworski the senator also introduced legislation that protects the country’s national marine sanctuaries and filed a bill imposing strict penalties on oil pollution damage on Philippine waters.

He co-authored the Clean Air Act and the Solid Waste Management Act.In 2004, Jaworski lost running for re-election as senator.PBA Return: Air21 head coach or PBA commissioner?

The Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Manila Times reported on February 13, 2007 of Jaworski's possible return in the PBA as coach for either the Air21 Express or the Talk N' Text Phone Pals for the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference but declined to accept the offer since talks stalled before any contract offer was made.

After the tournament, talks resurfaced again between Jaworski and Air21 management. But in several newspaper articles, it is said that both parties reportedly have agreed in principle with the Living Legend expected to make a decision upon the offer made by the team.If he accepts, it is possible that he may also take a huge corporate role in one of the companies controlled by Air21 owner Bert Lina. As for the coaching role, Bo Perasol is expected to be relegated as assistant coach.

However, with the resignation of Noli Eala as league commissioner, Jaworski is one of the names mentioned as replacements for the said post although no offer has been made.

Career highlightsPBA career

• Most Valuable Player in 1978• Mythical First Team Selection in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1986• Mythical Second Team Selection in 1985 and 1988• All Defensive Team in 1985 and 1988• Four time PBA All-Star• Won four championship as a playing coach in 1986 Open Conference, 1988 All-Filipino Conference, 1991 First Conference and 1997 Commissioner's Cup all with the Ginebra franchise• Coached the 1990 PBA All-Star Veterans, 1991 PBA All-Star Dark Team, 1992 PBA All-Star North Team, 1996 PBA All-Star Rookie/Sophomore/Juniors, and 1997 PBA All-Star Veterans• Finished his career with 5,825 career assists, 605 more than the second-running total ofRamon Fernandez.

• He is the most popular and most charismatic player the PBA has produced. He played the dual role of player-coach of the La Tondeña franchise at the age of 52 in 1998, 20 years after he won his only MVP award in the PBA.• In 1990 he spearheaded a hastily organized group of professional basketball superstars that attempted to wrestle back Asian basketball supremacy from China. It was the Philippine version of the Dream Team and was composed of four-time MVPs Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras, Allan Caidic, Chito Loyzaga, Hector Calma, Ronnie Magsanoc and Samboy Lim. It, however, came up only with a Silver medal. It remains to date the best finish by a Philippine professional basketball squad in the Asian Games.• During a Ginebra game against guest team Northern Consolidated, after getting a busted lip in the second quarter, he came back from a nearby hospital with seven stitches and went right back into the fray and led his trailing Ginebra team back to victory.• At age 40, he played the full 58 minutes (regulation plus two overtimes) in a PBA playoff game victory against Manila Beer, 145-135, the third longest exposure in a game by a local player.• He is the first PBA player to hit a three point shot when the three-point shot was introduced in the PBA in 1980. He did this in an exhibition game against the Crispa Redmanizers.• He had a running feud with Toyota teammate Ramon Fernandez that started around the last two years of Toyota in the PBA. It spilled over into a full blown acrimonious war on and off the court after Toyota disbanded in 1984. This feud, which lasted for a few years, was almost equally watched as the Toyota-Crispa rivalry. Jaworski's Ginebra against any team Fernandez was on. The feud finally ended in 1989 when both men, playing for the first time together since Toyota disbanded, orchestrated a beautiful last play that won the game for the All-Star Veterans team against a team of Rookies and Junior players (132-130). Fernandez executed an elegant undergoal stab after receiving an inbound pass from his old friend and team captain Jaworski. (Years later, Fernandez would return the favor in the dying seconds of the Toyota-Crispa reunion match by giving the assist to Jaworski who gallantly took the winning shot, a 3-pointer).• Playing for Meralco, in the amateur MICAA league, Jaworski and his teammate Alberto "Big Boy" Reynoso were given a lifetime ban for punching referee Joe Obias during a league game by the BAP (Basketball Association of the Philippines) headed by Lito Puyat. After three years, the sanction was lifted, Jaworski and Reynoso returned to the hardcourt playing for the Komatsu Comets in the same league.• His first movie was under FPJ' "FANDO" in 1969.• Jaworski is of partial Polish descent. While his surname is pronounced in Polish as [jaˈvorski], it is commonly pronounced in the Philippines as [dʒaˈwoɾski] in Tagalog and /[dʒəˈwɝːski/ in English.